Soft Skills You Can’t Do Without In The Remote Work Era
The success of remote first companies hinges on their mastery of specific skills.
By 2023, it is predicted that nearly 80% of existing remote jobs would require soft skills in addition to technical and hard abilities. Companies that emphasise hiring individuals with these talents will be better positioned to adapt and succeed in the future. (Source: Forbes)
Why it matters:: Amidst an elevated unemployment rate and the geographical flexibility of remote work that has emerged as a breath of fresh air, the job market is flooded with candidates, many of whom may have comparable technical skills. In such a saturated recruiting market, soft skills will help businesses overcome the barriers inherent in remote work, lack of in-person interaction, to name one.
According to Viju Gangadharan, Head of HR at iMocha, an AI-powered skills intelligence and assessment platform, “Post-pandemic, a lot of organisations have realised that remote working needs special skills to ensure employees demonstrate discipline and successfully deliver projects while ensuring their own performance-based growth.”
We’ve compiled a list for you. The favoured and the eagerly sought after. These are the skills that should serve as your criteria, no matter the role or industry, in remote hiring.
- Accountability: Taking responsibility for outcomes and self-monitoring. Especially crucial in remote work.
- Cybersecurity Awareness: Understanding of cybersecurity best practices and protocols to protect sensitive data and information while working remotely.
- Compliance: Conforming to laws, rules, and regulations. Especially critical to ensure data privacy and company confidentiality in case of remote.
- Critical Thinking: Quick fixes, problem solving, damage control, and objective thinking to compensate for the lack of in-person accessibility.
- Emotional Intelligence: Managing emotions, both one’s own and others’, to fill in for the lack of human connections and foster positive team dynamics.
- Digital Literacy: Proficiency in using various digital tools and technologies for communication, project management, and task execution in a remote setting.
- Cultural Sensitivity: Empathy and open-mindedness towards different cultures, communication styles, and work practices when collaborating with stakeholders from diverse cultural backgrounds.
- Social Awareness: Relating and responding to the feelings, needs, and concerns of individuals or broader societal groups.
- Time Management: Ability to effectively manage time and prioritise tasks, including setting goals, managing distractions, and maintaining work-life balance.
- Willingness to Upskill: Proactive approach to continuous learning and skill development, including self-directed learning, online courses, and virtual workshops.
“Interestingly, the ability to communicate effectively is foundational to many of these skills,” says one CEO from the world’s leading remote first community. “While hiring, communication is the number-one skill we see of remote teams we’re looking for.”
“Most remote employers, like us, want to hire professionals who can both do the job they’re being hired for AND build excellent working relationships with their colleagues,” he adds.
Bottom line: It’s past time for businesses to place a high bet on their people. In today’s increasingly competitive remote work market, many candidates will likely have identical technical abilities. Soft talents are what make you stand out from the crowd like a diamond in the rough.
We shall leave you to introspect.
